Bean harvester



June 16, 1953 1', GRETHER 2,641,888

BEAN HARVESTER roe/n5 GEEK/E9,-

IN V EN TOR.

197' TOE/(E V5 June 16, 1953 T, GRETHER 2,641,888

BEAN HARVESTER Filed Nov. 14, 1949 a Sheets-Sheet s rag/Rs G'QEil/EQ,

I N V EN TOR.

June 16, 1953 'r. GRETHER 2,641,388

BEAN HARVESTER Filed Nov. 14, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 .5. INVENTOR.

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Patented June 16, 1953 one-fourth to Ventura Farms Frozen Foods,Incorporated, Oxnard, Calif., a corporation of California ApplicationNovember- 14, 1949, Serial No. 127,097

16 Claims. (Cl. 56-49) A present method of picking beans comprisescutting the whole stalks off, gathering the beanstalks and transportingthem to a station where the stalks and the bean pods can be separated.This method isexpensive in that it requires that the stalks which arenot used be cut and transported, and this method also requires theadditional step of separating the stalks from the pods. Another methodof picking bean pods comprises picking the pods off the stalks. Thismethod has proved unsatisfactoryin general because of the loss of podswhich fall to the ground during the picking operation.

.A main object of the present invention is to provide a bean picker bywhich it is possible to pick a greater percentage of pods thanheretofore possible and to pick the pods directly from the stalks andleaving the stalks in the soil. This is accomplished by providing animproved means for stripping pods from the stalks which means will leavethe stalks in the soil and by providing means for sweeping the ground topick up pods which have fallen on the ground during picking operations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide variousimprovements in bean pickers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bean pickerhaving rotating picking units which are'adjustable to strip differenttypes of bean stalks.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bean pickerhaving at'least two rotat- I ing picker units having fingers which haveoverlapping paths of travel or in which the paths of travel areinterjacent.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bean pickerhaving rotating units of picking fingers wherein the fingers arearranged in, haphazard out of line arrangement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved means forshielding the pickin fingers of a bean picker.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for formingthe soil between ground-engaging members in a manner such as to allowthe soil to be readily swept to pick up bean pods deposited on theground.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a bean pickerwhich sweeps the soil but is so designed as to pick up a minimum amountof dirt. stones, and the like.

Another object of thepresent invention is to provide a bean picker inwhich there is a rotating finger unit having a front adjustable part anda rear stationary part, the front part being adjustable to adapt thebean picker to various size stalks.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will be made manifestin the following detailed description and specifically pointed out inthe appended claims, reference is had tothe accompanying drawings for anillustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure l is a side view in elevation of the bean picker of the presentinvention and associated apparatus; r

Fig. 2 is an'enlarged sectional view in plan along lines 2-2 of Fig 1,showing the bean picker with the top cover screen removed;

Fig. 3 is a view in sideele'vation in section along lines 3--3' of Fig.2; V I

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view .in elevation along lines 4-4of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view in elevation along lines 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view in elevation along lines 6-"6 of Fig.3; V

Fig. 7 is a partial side view in elevation showing the front adjustablepicking unit;

Fig. 8 is a side view in elevation of a modified form of the invention;and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view along lines 9 -9 of Fig. 8.

Referring tothe accompanying drawings wherein similar referencecharacters designate similar parts throughout, Fig. 1 shows a beanpicker embodying the concepts of the present invention and designatedgenerally by thereference numerals Ill, said bean picker being drawn bya motor-driven wheeled vehicle II of any suitable construction,- saidwheeled vehicle H having a motor l2 for driving the wheeled vehicle andalso driving various portions of the bean picker I0.

The bean picker II) has a frame comprising ground-engaging members l5and I6 having vertical posts 20 which support longitudinal angle members2!, there being cross angle members 22,

the various angle members and posts being suitably welded or otherwiseconnected together-to form a rigid frame.

Bean picker I0 is adapted to be pulled by a wheeled vehicle ll throughpull bars 30 which are attached to the frame 3| of vehicle ll and alsoto posts 33 which are fixed to the frame of the' bean picker. both thepicker and the wheeled vehicle to allow the picker to rise and'fall withthe unevenness The pull bars 30 are pivoted to of the ground, therebyfollowing the contour of the rows of beanstalks along which the beanpicker is drawn by the wheeled vehicle.

There are snouts 36, see Figs. 2 and 3, which are rotatably mounted onbrackets 38, said brackets being adjustably mounted on posts 20 by meansof sub-brackets 38 and nuts and bolts 40. By loosening the nuts andbolts 40 the bracket 38 can be rotated to raise or lower the front endsof snouts 36 whenever the front end of the bean picker is raised'orlowered. The snouts 36 serve to move along the rows of beanstalks andlift up the stalks lying close to the ground so that all the bean podsmay be picked by the picker. Since the snouts 36 are rotatably mountedthey will rotate whenever the stalks tend to entangle about the snouts36.

The front end of picker I is supported by wheels 43, said wheels being.attached to the frame of the bean picker by clevises 45 having threadedrods 41 extending upwardly therefrom, there being a nut 49 for each rod,only one being shown, for adjustably fastening the threaded rods 41 tolongitudinal frame members 2| of the frame of the bean picker, compareFigs. 1 and 3. There are side braces for each of the wheels, said sidebraces being pivotally connected to front posts 20, see Fig. 2, andserve in conjunction with threaded rods 41 to mount the wheels 43 on theframe of the bean picker. The front end of the bean picker may be raisedor lowered as desired by turning nuts 49 on threaded rods 41, sidebraces 5| allowing this movement because of their pivoted connections.Ground-engaging members I5 and|6 may be suitably relieved at 54, seeFig. 2, to accommodate wheels 43. 7

There are two longitudinal bean picking units 60 and 6|, each unitcomprising a plurality of picking fingers which are'rotated to pick podsfrom the beanstalks. Since the units are identical unit 68 will bedescribed.

There is a central supporting shaft 64 for each of the bean pickingunits, said shaft being supported from the frame of the picker bybrackets 65 and 66, compare Figs. 5 and 6, bracket 65 being mounted oncross-brace 68 which is suitably fastened to post 28 and brackets 66 aremounted on ground-engaging members I5 and I6 and vertical side platesI0, which side plates are fastened in turn to ground-engaging members I5and I6, as shown in Fig. 5. There is a forward supporting shaft I3 foreach of the units 60 and 6|,the forward shafts being connected to therearward shafts by universal joints I4 so that the shafts 64 can driveshafts I3.

The forward end of shafts I3 are adjustably supported by arcuate slottedmembers I8 which are fastened at their lower ends to ground-engagingmembers I5 and I6 and at their upper, ends to longitudinal angle members2|. The forward ends of shaft I3 are supported from member I8 bybrackets 80 which have bearings therein, said brackets having bolts 8Iwhich are receivable within slots 83 provided in member 18. It isobvious that bolts 8| can .be removed and the forward ends of shafts I3located at higher elevation by positioning bolts 8| in one of the upperslots.

On each of the shafts 64 and I3 there are located a plurality of beanpicking subunits, each of which comprises a sleeve 81 and 8111 having onone end thereof a plurality of fingers 88 and 88a .which are welded orotherwise fastened to the ends of sleeves 81 and 81a. As can be seenfrom Fig. 3, the subunits-are arranged along forward shafts I3 and abutup against universal joints I4,

4 and these subunits are frictionally held against each other by meansof nuts 90 which thread on the ends of shaft I3. The rear ends of shafts64 are also threaded to receive nuts 96 so that the subunits on shafts64 can be frictionally pressed against one another in a manner similarto that described for the subunits on shaft I3. Since the pickingsubunits are not fixedly attached to shafts 64 and I3 but are onlyfrictionally driven, it is obvious that during picking operations the fi88 and 88a may rotate with respect to the driving shafts 64 and I3whenever they encounter an obstruction such as a large rock or the like.The fingers 88 and 88a are arranged in haphazard fashion with relationto one another, that is they are arranged purposely out of alignment sothat i all the fingers do not engage the stalks at the same time. Thefingers are designed this way in order' to avoid uprooting the stalkswhich would occur if all the fingers contacted the stalks at the sametime. 1

Shafts 64 are driven through universal .joints I00 and splined shafts|00a and sleeves IOI, the splined shafts and sleeves being driven byuniversal joints I02 from motor I2 by suitable chains, belt drives, orthe like. There is a plurality of shields I05 and I050. for each of thelongitudinal picking units 60 and 6|, said shields being fastened toside plates I0 or being formed integral with side plates I0 and. beingfastened at their upper ends to outer sleeves I06 and I'06a which arepositioned around inner sleeves 87 and 81a. For sake of clarity in thedrawings shields I05 and N511 have been shown as being spaced from thefingers 88 and 88a a considerable distance but actually the fingers 88and 88a move very closely to the shields I05 and |05a so that if anyvines are brought around by the fingers 88 and 88a closeto the crevicebetween the fingers 88 and 88a and the shields I05 and I05a, these vineswill be out 01f. Itis obvious that if the space between fingers 88 and88a and shields I05 and |05a is very large vines could pass between thefingers and the shields and therefore cause trouble.

There are conveyor units I08 and I08 arranged along the sides of fingerunits 60 and 6| to convey.

the pods and leaves to the rear of the machine to a cross-conveyor I I',see Fig. 1, where the leaves and pods may be delivered to other suitablemechanism such as a dirt-separating device or any other suitable deviceas is desired.

Each of the conveyor units I08 and I09 comprises a belt II 3 which hasslats II 4 fastened thereto transversely thereof along the length as canbe seen in Fig. 2. On the edges of belt I I3 are narrow belts I I6 whichare fastened to conveyor belt 3 and narrow belts I I 6 provide means,not shown, whereby the conveyor belt may be driven.

Each of the conveyor belts passes over a roller I20 at the forward endthereof, said roller being rotatably mounted on the pickerframe in anysuitable fashion. The conveyor belts I I3 have a portion thereof risingas shown in Fig. 3, and there are side guards I25 which are fastened tothe frame of the picker. There are rear rollers I21 which are rotatablymounted on the picker frame by bearings I28, see Fig. 3. Intermediatethe rollers I20 and I2! are rollers I30 which are rotatably mounted onthe picker frame as shown in Fig. 6, and rollers I30 serve to guide thelower portion of the conveyor belt. The upper portion of the conveyorbelt is supported at the rising part thereof by rollers I35 which arerotatably mounted by bearings I36 on the picker frame, see Fig. 6.Rollers I35 do not extend across the belt thrown out the top of theunit. Therefore, be-

tween guards I39 and screen I43 no pods will be allowed to be thrown outof the picker unit.

As shownin Fig. 7, there is an auxiliary shield 151 which is pivoted atI58 to the forward shields I of the picking units 60 and 6| and theseauxiliary shields I51 serve to cover the space between the forwardshields I05 and the rear shields I05a at all times in any adjustedposition of the forward shafts 13. The auxiliary shields I51 remainstationary as the forward shield I05 are raised with raising of theforward shafts 13. Since the forward shields I05 are raised and loweredthey cannot be integral'with side plates as rear shields 105a. can be asshown in Fig. 5; the forward shields I05 being separate from sideshields 10 as can best be seen in Fig. 4. As the forward shields I05 areraised the forward portion I65 of auxiliary shields I51 serve to provideguards for the space uncovered by the forward portions of the shieldsI05, see Fig. 7.

Lift means I10 are provided for lifting the rear end of the pickerwhenever it is desired to turn at the end of a row or at anyother timewhen it is desired.

Since only the forwardend of bean picker I0 is supported by wheels 43the rear end of picker I0 and the rear portions, of ground-engagingmembers I5 and I6 will therefore drag or slide along the ground an-dtheweight of the picker unit will force the ground-engaging members downinto the ground as shown in Fig. 6. When this occurs the soil betweenthe edgesI14 and I of ground-engaging members I5 and IE will be formedby the rotating fingers 88a into apeaked mound as shown in Fig, 6, andthe bean pods which have dropped between the ground-engaging members I5and I6 will be picked up by the fingers 88a and thrown onto theconveyors II3. It is desirable that the distance between edges I14 andI15 be kept to a minimum to avoid picking up too much dirt. It ispossibleto weight the picker so that the ground-engaging members l5 andI6 dig into the ground the desired amount. However, in some cases wherethe ground is very hard, it is desirable to, provide some other means toinsure that a mound may be formed and these means may comprise diggersI80, see Figs. 2 and 4. Diggers I80 are shaped as shown in Fig. 4 andpositioned at an angle with relation to the line of travel of the pickerI0 as best shown in Fig. 2. These diggers may be fastened togroundengaging members I5 and I6 by any suitable means.- Since thesediggers are at the forward ends of the ground-engaging members I5 and I6they will normally not dig into the ground for soil that is of the rightconsistency andwhich has not become hard. However, if hard soil. is

encountered the front end of the picker can'be front ends ofgroundengaging members I5 and I6 be slightly off the ground for iftheyare merely allowed to rest on the ground dirt crowds in front of thegroundengaging members and will prevent easy operation of the device.

The operation of the device is-as follows.

The forward-ends of shafts 13 which support the forwardfingers B8 areadjusted along curved member 18 to that position at which the forwardfingers will engage the tops of the stalks which are to be picked. Theheight to which the forward ends of shafts 13 are positioned depends, ofcourse, upon what adjustment the forward ends of the ground-engagingmembers I5 and I6 are assuming. If the forward ends of thegroundengaging members I5 and I6 are moved down fairly close to theground in order that the diggers I may operate, then of course suitableadjustment of the forward ends of shaft 13 will have to be made. As soonas these initial adjustments have been made the picking units are driventhrough motor I 2 and the picker II moved along a row of beanstalks. Theforward fingers 88 will first engage the upper portions of thebeanstalksas shown in Fig. 4, and will strip the pods as well as theleaves from the stalks and as the picker progresses the stalk will beprogressively stripped from top to bottom by succeeding fingers. Duringthis operation pods will fall in between the space betweenground-engaging members I5 and I6 although amajorityof thepods and beanswill be deposited on the conveyors I I3. However, a certain percentageof the pods will fall to the ground, and it is a, main object of thewill be hit by the rotating fingers 83a and thrown upwardly and will beeventually knocked into conveyors I I3. Of course, during the initialstages of the operation of the picker a number of the pods will beknocked onto the upper surface of the opposingv ground-engaging memberbut as soon as this space is filled up then the pods will be knockedupwardly by the fingers 880.. As can be seen in Fig. 6, when the rearfingers have passed over the beanstalks the beanstalks will have beencompletely stripped of their leaves and pods but substantially all thestalks will remain in the ground. Converging shields or guards I96 maybe provided at the forward portion of the picker, see Fig. 2, for aidingthe snouts 36 in funnelling the beanstalks in toward the fingers 88.

-,With'these interengaging teeth the operation of which is best shown inFigs. 4, 5, and 6, a com- .plete andi'thorough stripping of the vines isassured.-

A modified .form of the invention is disclosed in Figs. 8 and 9, and themodified form of the invention includes the wheeled vehicle II and mostof the apparatus including the same construction of the fingers 88 and88a, the shafts 64 and T3, sleeves 81 and 81a and the like as shown inFigs. 1 to 7, inclusive, but the indicating reference characters arefollowed by a sufiix a, b or c. In the modified form of the inventionthere is, however, a center ground-engaging member 200 and sideground-engaging members MI and 202 so that two longitudinal slots areprovided by the ground-engaging members in this form of th inventioninstead of merely one.

Fig. 9 corresponds to Fig. of the drawings for the first modificationand the dotted lines in Fig. 9 show the positions of the ground-engagingmembers 200, 20I, and 202 in which the modified form of the invention isin a position similar to the position of the first form of the inventionshown in Fig. 6. In a modified form of the invention there is only oneset of rotating fingers for each row of beans and there are curvedshields 209 for each of the units for each of the rows of stalks shownin Fig. 9, the curved guards or shields being provided with a top coverportion 2| l to confine the pods and leaves which are knocked off thstalks into the conveyor zone. Ther is a conveyor I|3a very similar tothe conveyor for the first form of the invention, the only differencebeing that it is centrally located between two rotating picking unitsinstead of being located at the side of one unit. The modified form ofthe invention can be provided with either one rotating picking unit orit can be pro- 'vided with two rotating picking units and a singleconveyor.

- The conveyor H30, is inclined upwardly at the rear as shown in Fig. 9in a manner similar to the inclination of the conveyor H3 for the firstform of the invention. The curved guards or shields 209 ar in threeparts as shown in Fig. 8, there being a rear part 2l6, a centerremovable and replaceable part 2 I 1, and a forward part 2 I 8. Thereare rear covers 224 provided on the modified form of the invention andthe rear covers are relieved at 226, see Fig. 9, to allow the strippedstalks to escape the rear end of th picker. The stalks, of course, willbe bent downwardly by the rear cover 224 but substantially all thestalks will remain in the ground. There i no forward or front cover butthere are suitable guards or shields 230 in order to funnel thebeanstalks into the spaces between the ground-engaging members 20!, 200,and 202. There are shields I05b and I050 for the rotating finger unitssimilar to shields I05 and l05a. in the first form of the invention.

The operation of the modified form of the invention is similar to theoperation of the first form of the invention. The ground-engagingmembers 20!, 202, and 200 have the forward portions supported in amanner similar to the ground-engaging members of the first portionengaging members slid over a portion of the ground they will beardownwardly into the ground and form a mound which the fingers 880 willform into the dotted shape shown in Fig. 9, and in this position all thepods that have been deposited on the ground will be picked up by fingers88c and knocked onto the conveyor I No.

By use of the present invention a larger per- I and scope of theinventionas defined byIthe centage of bean ods can be collected from beastalks than was heretofore possible because of Y the improved means ofstripping thebeans, and also because ofthe fact that there are means forsweeping the soil between the ground-engaging members so that th beanpods/that are deposited on the ground between the ground--' engagingmembers will be picked up. With this system a very high percentage ofthe pods can be collected and hardly any of the pods are broken by thepicking apparatus since the fingers 88b merely move up'under the hook onthe bean pods and knock the pods loose. In doing so, the

leaves will also be stripped but the pods'and leaves will be separateand it is a relatively simple matter to thereafter separate the leavesfrom the pods since the pods are heavier. By the present system andmethod substantially all the stalks themselves are left in the groundand therefore, the expense of transporting the stalks to a, separatingstation is eliminated. Since the ground-engaging members are positionedas close as possible to the stalks a minimum amount of dirt willbe'picked up by the fingers 880. Of course, the ground-engaging memberswill have to be spaced apart ad'istance such that adriver can drive thebean picker down the rows and still be able to straddle the beanstalkswithout having the ground-engaging members running into the beanstalks.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction withoutdeparting from the'spirit appended claims, whereinI claim:

1. A bean picker comprising a frame, a pair of ground-engaging memberson the frame and arranged to straddle'a row of'bean stalks and'be movedtherealong to define a limited ground area therebetween on which podsbeing picked may fall, means on theframe located above'theground-engaging members and between the ends of the ground-engagingmembers for stripping pods from the stalks'whereby pods falling towardthe ground fall on the ground-engaging members and the ground areabetween the ground-engaging members, means located on the members andrearwardly of the last-named means for sweeping the ground area betweenthe ground-engaging members to. thereby'pick up pods which have fallenonthe area, and means on the frame for collecting thepods deposited thereby said first and second means.

2. A bean picker comprising a frame, a pair of ground-engaging memberson the frame and arranged to straddle a row of bean stalks and be movedtherealong to define a limited ground area therebetween on which podsbeing picked may fall,,means on the frame located above theground-engaging members and between the ends of the ground-engagingmembers for stripping pods from the stalks whereby pods falling towardthe ground fall on the ground-engaging mem bers and the ground areabetween the groundengaging members, means located" on the mem bers andrearwardly of the last-named means for sweeping the entire ground areabetween the ground-engaging members to thereby pickup pods whichhave-fallen on the ground area, and means on the frame for collectingthe pods deposited there by said first and second means.

3. A bean picker comprising a frame, a pair of ground-engaging memberson the frame and arranged to straddle a row of bean stalks and be movedtherealong to define-a limited ground area therebetween on which podsbeing picked mayfall, means on the frame located above theground-engaging members and between the ends or the ground-engagingmembers for stripping pods from the stalks whereby pods fallingtoward-the ground fall onthe ground-engaging members and the ground areabetweenthe ground-engaging members, means located on the members andrearwardlyof the last-named means and inwardly of the rear ends of theground-engaging members for sweeping the ground area between theground-engaging mem here to thereby" pick up pods which have fallen onthe area, and means on theframe for collecting the pods deposited thereby said first and second means.

4 A bean picker comprising a frame, a pair of' gr'ound-engaging memberson the frame and arranged to straddlea row of bean stalks and be movedtherealong to define a limited ground area therebetween on which podsbeing picked may fall, means on the frame located above the groundengaging members and between the ends of the ground-engagingmembers forstripping pods from the stalks whereby pods falling toward thegroundfall on the ground-engaging 'members andthe ground area betweenthe ground-engaging members, means located on the frame rearwardly ofthe last-named means for simultaneously sweeping theground area between-the ground-engaging members and forming the ground area into apredetermined shape to enable said means topick up pods which havefallen on the ground area, and meanson the frame forcollecting the pods:deposited there by saidfirst and 'second means.

-5. A bean picker comprising a frame, a pair of spaced elongatedparallel ground-engaging members onthe frame arranged to-straddle a rowof bean stalks and define a limited area of ground therebetween on whichfalling pods can fall, a pair of spaced parallel rotary toothed membersmounted on the .frameand having the teeth thereof arranged in; staggeredrelationship with respect to: one another and traversing overlappingpaths, said toothed members beinglocated above and parallel to theground-engaging members and between'th'e ends of the ground-engagingmembers and adapted to engage bean stalks and strip-pods therefromwhereby falling pods fall antheground-engaging members orthe ground areabetween the ground-engaging members, means-located-on the members andrearwardly of the toothed members for sweeping the ground areabetween'the ground-engaging members to thereby pickup pods which havefallen thereon, and means on the frame for collecting the pods depositedthere by said members and said means.

6. Albean picker comprising a frame, a pair of spaced elongated parallelground-engaging members on the frame arranged to straddle 'a ship withrespect to one another and traversing overlapping" paths, said toothedmembers being located above and parallel to theground-eng-ag-- ingmembers and between the ends of the groundengagingmembers and adapted toengage bean stalks and strip pods therefromwhereby falling pods fall ontheg-round-engaging members or the ground area between theground-engaging members, elongated means mounted on the frame andarranged longitudinally of the ground-engaging members and locatedrearwardly of the toothed members for simultaneously sweeping the groundarea between the ground-engaging members and forming. the, ground areainto a pattern to enable the rearward portion of the means to,completely sweep the entire area between the ground-engaging members tothereby pick up pods which. have. fallen on the ground area between theground-engaging members, and means on the frame for collecting the pods;

7. Abean picker comprising a frame, a pair of ground-engaging members onthe frame arranged tostraddle a row of bean stalks and be movedtherealong and define a limited ground area therebetween on which podsbeing picked may fall, and means on the frame overlying theground-engaging members for stripping pods from the stalks whereby podsfalling toward the ground fall on the ground-engaging members and theground area between the ground-engaging members, said last-named meansinclud ing counter-rotating toothed units, and shields between the,teeth having. edges by which the teeth pass closely whereby portions ofthe stalks or the liketorn from the stalks will be severed by coactionof the edges of the shields and the teeth to avoid clogging of the partsby the stalk portions.

8. A. bean picker comprising a frame, a pair of groundeengaging membersarranged to straddle a row of bean stalks and be moved therealong anddefine a limited ground area therebetween on which pods being picked mayfall, means on the frame overlying the ground engaging. members forstripping pods from the stalks whereby podsfallingtoward the ground fallon the ground-engaging members and the ground area between theground-engaging members, said last-named means including counterrotatingtoothed units, shields between the teeth having edges by which the teethpass closely whereby portions of the stalks or the like torn from thestalks will be severed. by coaction of the edges of the shields and theteeth to avoid clogging of the parts by the stalk portions, meanslocated onthe members and rearwardly of the stripping means for sweepingthe ground area between the ground-engagin members to there by pick uppods which have fallen upon the ground area, and means in the frame forcollecting the pods.

' 9. A bean picker comprising a frame, a pair of groundengaging memberson the frame arranged to staddlea row of bean stalks and be movedtherealong and define a limited ground area therebetween on which podsbeing picked may fall, means on the under side of the groundengagingmembers for forming a centrally disposed mound betweentheground-engaging members, means on the frame located above theground-engaging members and between the ends ofthe ground-engagingmembers for stripping pods from the stalks whereby pods fallingtowardthe ground fall on. the ground-engaging members and: the groundarea between the ground-engaging members, means located on the membersand rearwardly of the last-named means for sweeping the ground areabetween the ground-engaging membersto thereby pick up pods which havefallen on the ground area, and means onthe frame for collecting thepods.

10. Abean picker'comprising a frame, means on the frame for strippingpods from stalks,

means on the frame enclosing the last-named means and receiving podsfrom the stripping means and having parallel opposed spaced'edges' belowthe stripping means straddling a row of stalks and defining a limitedground area on which falling pods may fall, means mounted on and withinthe last-named means for sweeping the ground area defined by said edges,and means on the frame for collecting the pods.

11. A bean picker comprising a frame, means on the frame for strippingpods from stalks, means on the frame enclosing thelast-named means andreceiving pods from the stripping means and having parallel opposedspaced edges below the stripping means straddling a row of stalks anddefinin a limited ground area on which falling pods may fall, means onthe frame for collecting the pods and means mounted on and within theenclosing means and disposed rearwardly of the stripping means forsweeping the ground area defined by said edges.

12. A bean picker comprising a frame, a pair of ground-engaging memberson the frame and arranged to straddle a row of bean stalks and be movedtherealong to define a limited ground area therebetween on which podsbeing picked may fall, means on the frame and located above theground-engaging members and. between the ends of the ground-engagingmembers for stripping pods from the stalks whereby pods falling towardthe ground fall on the ground-engaging members and the ground areabetween the ground-engaging members, said last-named means includingcounter-rotating toothed units, and shields between the. teeth havingedges by which the teeth pass closely whereby portions of the. stalkstorn from the stalks will be severed by coaction of the edges of theshields and the teeth thereby avoiding clogging of the parts by thestalk portions, means located on the members and rearwardly of thestripping means for sweeping the ground area between the groundengagingmembers to thereby pick up pods which have fallen on the ground area,and means on the frame for collecting the pods.

13. A bean picker comprising a frame,,a pair of ground-engaging memberson the frame and arranged to straddle a row of bean stalks and be movedtherealong to define a limited ground area therebetween on which'podsbeing picked may fall, means located on the frame above theground-engaging members and between the ends of the ground-engagingmembers for stripping pods from the stalks whereby pods fallingltowardthe ground fall on the ground-engaging members and the ground areabetween the ground-engaging members, said 7 last-named means includingcounter-rotatingtoothed units, shields between the teeth having edges bywhich the teeth pass closely whereby portions of the stalks or the liketorn from the stalks will be severed by coaction of the edges of theshields and the teeth thereby avoiding clogging of the parts of themachine by the stalk portions, means located on the members andrearwardly of the stripping means and inwardly of the rear ends of theground-engaging members for sweeping the ground-area between thegroundr-engaging members to thereby pick up podsiwhich have fallen onthe area, and means on theframe for collecting the pods. V

14. A bean picker comprising a frame,,a pair of ground-engaging memberson the frame and arranged to straddle a row of bean stalks and be movedtherealong to define a, limited ground areav therebetween on which podsbeing picked may fall, means located on the frame above theground-engaging members and between the ends: of the ground-engagingmembers for stripping pods from the stalks whereby pods falling towardthe ground fall on the ground-engaging members and the ground areabetween the ground-engaging members, means located on the members, andrearwardly of the last-named means for sweeping the ground area betweenthe ground-engaging members to thereby pick up pods which have fallen onthe area, the-sweeping means including counter-rotating toothed units,and means onthe frame for collecting the pods. g

15. A bean picker comprising a frame, a pair of ground-engaging memberson the frame and arranged to straddle a row of bean stalks and be movedtherealong to define a limited ground area therebetweenv on which podsbeing picked may fall, means located on the frame above theground-engaging members and between the ends of the ground-engagingmembers for, stripping pods from' the stalks whereby pods falling towardthe ground fall on the ground-engaging members and the ground areabetween the ground-engaging members, said stripping means 7 includingupwardly inclined parallel counterrrotating toothed units, and meanslocated on the members and rearwardly of the stripping means forsweeping the ground area between the groundengaging members to therebypick up pods which have fallen on the ground area, the sweeping meanscomprising parallel. counter-rotating toothed units, and means fordriving the counterrotating units, and means on the frame forcollecting' the pods.

' 16. A bean picker comprising a frame, a pair of ground-engagingmembers on the frame and arranged to straddle a row of bean stalks andbe moved therealong to define a limited ground area therebetween onwhich pods being picked may fall, means located on the frame above theground-engaging members and between the ends of the ground-engagingmembers for stripping pods from the stalks whereby pods falling towardthe ground fall on the ground-engaging members and the ground areabetween the ground-engaging members, the stripping means includingupwardly inclined parallel counter-rotating toothed units, means locatedon the members and rearwardly of the stripping means for sweeping theground area between, the groundengaging members to thereby pick up podswhich have fallen on the area, the sweeping 'means'comprising parallelhorizontally arranged counter-rm TOBIAS GRETHER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName V, Date- 1,105,235 ,Appleby 'July 28, 1914 1,859,980 Mueller May,24, 1932 1,948,975 Urschel Feb. 27, 1934 2,179,584 Bourg Sr Nov. 14,1939 2,354,112? Garst July 18, 1944 2,587,553 Ward Feb. 26, 1952

